Hotel History

Tradition through centuries

At present the Schloss Hotel is owned by the Zepp family, who with a great care tries to preserve its precious tradition.

It is our aim to offer you a truly royal peace and quiet in the Schlosshotel. The unique location directly at the former palace of the kings and queens invites you to linger and be amazed. We have been striving for prfection since 1998 and hope that you will become a part of our history.

And so the story begins...

Pillnitz was first mentioned in the 14th century as a ruler residence and knight mansion.

In 1694 the duke John George IV received the Pillnitz estate in exchange for the castle and office Lichtenwalde. After his death, the castle and park became the property of his brother, who later became famous as Augustus the Strong.

A Fairy-Tale history of our Hotel

The first indications of a catering and lodging option in the immediate vicinity of the Pillnitz Castle can be found in March 1724 during the construction of the Water- and Mountainpalace under August the Strong, when the tenant of the Pillnitzer Schänke (the later “Goldener Löwe”) complained about: “that a Dresdner sutler, named Guttermann, is allowed to eat and be accommodate in a house near the castle.”

1818 - 1999 in the Hotels history

Lord Chamverlain Count Vitzthum ordered the court caterer (cool of fine dishes) Mr. Guttermann, to prepare everything necessary for the imminent presence of the king with regard to the accommodation and feeding of court officials and strangers in his tavern (i.e. the beginnings of the “Schlossschänke”). In the following years, court caterers and mouth bakers were mentioned again and again in connection with this building in the castle courtyard.

Wintergartencafe Zitat Bild

We spend a few days at the hotel and must confess quite sincerely we couldn’t have made a better choice. The location is nice, the room equipment leaves nothing to be desired. The staff were always most eager to help us. The breakfast was fabulous. Our parish wants to recommend this special hotel with all our hearts!

Christhard // Switzerland // Booking.com // September 2016

Luftbild Schlosshotel Pillnitz Bild Zitat

The staff members were so nice, so professional. The castle is like a fairytale one, the buffet breakfast is rich, the car park is free and the location itself is clean, quiet and cosy – a gem!

Frank B. // HRS // July 2016

Pillnitz Wappen Fenster Zitat

Perfect for tourists visiting Dresden, the Keep or the direct surroundings of the Pillnitz Castle. If you love painting the town red at night, that’s sadly not the choice for you, too far away from the Dresden attractions. Yet, it’s a very romantic place with lots of biking and walking routes on the Elbe riverbanks. On foot, you can easily get to the cruisne leading you to an old farm house in the Tudor style. Today it’s an interesting restaurant with a beer garden.

EPH // Berlin // Expedia // October 2016

Weinbergkirche Pillnitz Zitat Bild Schlosshotel Pillnitz

The location is great, the breakfast and dinner taste like heaven! And you can get to the Dresden centre using the public transport means without any difficulties. What a pity, there’s no wellness zone here, though.

Torsten // Booking.com // October 2016

Wasserpalais Schlosshotel Pillnitz Dampfer Zitat Bild

Impeccable and truly recommendable!

Andre F.// HRS // December 2016

Meeting Schlosshotel Pillnitz Zitat Bild

Wonderful location, right at the Pillnitz Castle Garden and the Elbe River.

Business guest // Hotel.de // October 2016

Zimmer Schlosshotel Pillnitz Zitat Bild

Such a pleasant welcome, perfectly allocated rooms. The egg dishes served at breakfast were really delicious, lots of choice. The service quality couldn’t be higher.

Anja // Booking.com // June 2016

Außenansicht Schlosshotel Pillnitz Zitat Bild

A splendid location right at the Elbe bank, in the heart of the Pillnitz Park, which is truly breathtaking. The atmosphere in the hotel is impeccable, the staff members are very friendly, and there is a car park at the hotel if you need it. A tip: If you find a bathtub too inconvenient, you can always ask for a room with a shower cabin, there’s no problem with that.

Wolfgang B. // HRS // October 2016

The History of the Schloss-Schänke in a nutshell

  • 1829 as part of the redesign of the new palais building, the accomodation for mouth bakers and court caterers is thoroughly renovated andexpanded.
  • 1876 the “royal saxon court pharmacy” uses rooms in the house, probably since that time Robert Biesold was the restaurateur.
  • 1899 by the end of April 1899, after Biesold’s death, the castle restoration was rebuilt: kitchen extension at the rear, construction of the covered veranda with cast-iron column at right angles to the main building in the direction of the castle guard, new rooms for the court pharmacy on the south gable of the main building. From May first of 1899, Albert Berthold from Blasewitz is the tenant of the restaurant. Otto Wendisch, the master baker from the Pillnitz village square, is the tenant of the baked gods shop in the building.
  • 1906-1975 Franz Ostertag (until 1917), Ernst Großmann (until 1922), Casper Schellhas (until 1933), Herbert Schellhas (until 1946), are the changing tenants, followed by other private tenants during the DDR era.
  • 1975-1976 the trade organization of the DDR becomes a tenant, with a major reservation: separate areas for self-service and restaurant develop, the building and the hall with the bar on the first floor is created.
  • 1998-1999 – Demolition of the existing buildings down to the surrounding walls and construction of the new building for the “Schlosshotel Dresden-Pillnitz” as part of a leasehold contract by the Zepp family.
  • In 2002 & 2013, Pillnitz Castle & Park and the Schlosshotel Pillnitz were affected by the two “floods of the century”. The house had to be renovated two times, after that the castle hotel has been shining in a new design and welcomes its guests warmly.